ETIAS requirements
The travel rules ETIAS will enforce: passport, fee, validity and the 90/180 short-stay rule.
The essentials
ETIAS at a glance
- Passport
- Valid for at least 3 months beyond planned exit
- Travel purpose
- Tourism, business, family visits, transit
- Stay limit
- 90 days in any 180-day period
- Validity
- Up to 3 years or until passport expiry
- Official fee
- Expected €20
- Application channel
- Official EU website / app when live
Passport requirement
You’ll need a valid passport, typically with at least 3 months’ validity beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area. ETIAS is linked to a single passport: if you renew, you’ll need a new ETIAS. Travellers from countries that use multiple types of passport (e.g. diplomatic) should always apply with the passport they intend to travel on.
Travel purpose
ETIAS covers short stays for:
- Tourism.
- Business meetings and short business trips.
- Family visits.
- Transit through ETIAS countries.
ETIAS does not cover longer stays for work, study or residence, those still need a national long-stay visa or residence permit.
Stay limit
ETIAS-eligible travellers can stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day window. ETIAS itself does not extend that limit. The day-count is shared across all ETIAS countries, so a week in Spain and a week in France use up two weeks of your allowance, not separately.
Validity
An approved ETIAS is expected to be valid for up to 3 years, or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first. You can make multiple short trips on the same ETIAS within those 3 years, as long as you stay within the 90/180 rule.
Fee
The expected official ETIAS fee is €20. Travellers under 18 and over 70 are expected to be exempt from the fee but still need to apply.
Information needed for application
Expected fields on the official ETIAS form include:
- Full legal name, date and place of birth, gender, nationality.
- Passport number, country of issue, expiry date.
- Home address, email and phone number.
- First ETIAS country you’ll arrive in.
- Background questions on criminal history, security and prior travel.
Common mistakes
- Misspelling your name so it does not match your passport exactly.
- Using a passport that expires soon, since the ETIAS expires with it.
- Applying with one passport but trying to travel on a different one.
- Answering background questions inaccurately, when accuracy is critical.
- Forgetting to apply for children, who each need their own ETIAS.
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ETIAS requirements FAQs
What is the 90/180-day Schengen rule?
ETIAS-eligible travellers can stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day window. ETIAS does not extend that limit; it only authorises short stays within the existing rules.
What if my passport expires before my ETIAS does?
ETIAS is expected to be linked to a single passport. If that passport expires, your ETIAS expires with it. After renewing your passport, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS using the new passport details.
How long will ETIAS last?
An approved ETIAS is expected to be valid for up to 3 years, or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first. It allows short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period within ETIAS countries.
How much will ETIAS cost?
The official ETIAS fee is expected to be €20. Travellers under 18 and over 70 are expected to be exempt from the fee, though they will still need an ETIAS. Private services may charge a separate, optional service fee for help with the application.
Do children need ETIAS?
Yes, each traveller, including minors and infants, is expected to need their own ETIAS authorisation. Travellers under 18 and over 70 are expected to be exempt from the official €20 fee but still need to apply.
Related pages
Get ready for ETIAS before it becomes mandatory
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